Imagine though, with the current trajectory of increased capability, decreased purchase and maintenance costs of 3D printing, how life will adapt to being able to make more and more items at home, rather than having to purchase them from others.

What impact would that have on traditional stores and even online vendors? You’d still need to buy food and medical supplies, and for a while anyway, things which are too costly or complicated to make with a consumer 3D printing device.

The next time you’re walking around a Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco, or Walmart, look around the shelves and ask “what if these items could be 3D printed at home?” How do thing it would impact that store? Would it shrink in size? Would it adapt to selling more raw materials (printing filaments)? Or would you expect corporate intervention to motivate governmental regulation on home 3D printing capabilities? Who knows.